MICHAEL LAUDRUP says victory over in-form West Brom would put Swansea City well ahead of schedule in their fight to stay in the Premier League.

MICHAEL LAUDRUP says victory over in-form West Brom would put Swansea City well ahead of schedule in their fight to stay in the Premier League.

Swansea could move on to 20 points with a win over Steve Clarke’s high fliers at the Liberty Stadium tonight, halfway to the traditional 40-point target needed to survive in the top flight.

With five more games to play after West Brom before they reach the midway point of the season, the Dane knows the significance of picking up three points this evening.

Laudrup said: “It’s a very positive moment for us and that’s what we want to continue at the club.

“At the same time we want to try and improve all the time.

“It isn’t possible to win every game, even though we try to, so we must focus on improving our performances and points tally, which is the most important.

“We know we have to be strong at home. It is where we will probably get the majority of our points and we have done well so far.

“We’ve recently played two big sides in Chelsea and Liverpool, but we would like three points against West Brom to keep the good run going.

“If we do then we will be on 20 points after 14 games, which will be halfway to where we need to be and I would be very happy about that, it would be fantastic.”

Swansea have enjoyed a much-improved run of form over the last two months and the 0-0 draw with Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool stretched their unbeaten run to five games in all competitions.

Laudrup’s side have lost just one of their last eight – the 1-0 defeat at champions Manchester City – to lift themselves to ninth in the Premier League table.

They are just four points away from Everton in the final European qualification place but haven’t attracted anywhere near as much attention as West Brom following their fantastic start to the campaign.

Only Premier League leaders Manchester United have won more games than third-placed West Brom this season and Clarke’s side arrive at the Liberty looking to become the first Baggies side to win five in a row since 1979.

Their latest win, Saturday’s 4-2 triumph away at Sunderland, took them to within four points of leaders Manchester United.

Laudrup said: “Confidence is so important in football.

“Talent, motivation and concentration are also key elements, but if you are winning games and getting good results then you believe you can beat anyone.

“This season it is West Brom, last season it was Newcastle, in every league around the world you will get a surprise team every year.

“Anybody can be the surprise team, that’s why it’s called a surprise and it’s great for football.

“You need lots of things going for you, a good team, not many injuries and a bit of luck and when it comes together you can surprise people.

“West Brom beat Chelsea recently and narrowly lost to Manchester City, so we know we are in for a tough game.

“But we are at home, where we have lost just once all season, and we want to try and get the three points.”

Swans boss Laudrup hinted that he will stick with the majority of the side who drew with Liverpool on Sunday with Ki Sung-Yueng likely to be the only change in place of Itay Shechter.

With a trip to the Emirates to face Arsenal on Saturday to consider, Laudrup is targeting tonight’s game against West Brom as their best chance to pick up three points.

Under former manager Rodgers the Swans did the double over West Brom last season with a 3-0 hammering at the Liberty before a superb 2-1 win on the road in the New Year.

Laudrup said: “When you only have three days between games it is tough.

“I said I wouldn’t play the same starting 11 in all three games and that is true but it could be one, two or three changes against West Brom or maybe Saturday against Arsenal.

“Sometimes you have to look at the games coming up and the most important one for us is the game against West Brom, it’s a home game and it’s one we would like to win.